It all began with Adam praying to God for a partner with whom he could share his feelings and live a comfortable life. God, being the Creator of all, granted his wish and created Eve from Adam’s rib. It was Eve who then beautified the Paradise and brought colours in Adam’s life. This momentous event marked the creation of the ‘woman’. She was God’s rahmat and beneath her feet He placed the heavens. Who knew this beauty and glory would not last long, and the same beloved creature of God will find itself buried somewhere deep inside the shackles of the corrupted human mind.
The Age of Absolute Ignorance was not only the absence of the remembrance of God, as many call it, but it was also a personification of Hell for women on earth. At that time, a woman was seen as an entity; she could be easily ‘inherited’ and bought and sold in the markets. There was no respect for mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Today, we propagate women rights, but back in that time when even the birth of a baby girl was detested, these rights were completely out of question. The rahmat was called the shame and was buried alive.
It was then, at that moment, Islam came with the message of justice: “O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding justice,” (4:135) and proclaimed men as protectors of women, raising their position in the society. The advent of Islam and God’s message became an eye-opener for all those who transgressed against women. Islam, even today, continues to rejoice and prosper from the success of women, who emerged as religious scholars and political reformers, contributing to the establishment of Muslim societies around the globe. This tradition did not begin just here, and can be traced back to several prominent Muslim Women, who shaped the course of history. Who can forget Khadija, the first convert to Islam, or Ayesha, who was one of the most learned Hadith scholars and all the other Mothers of the Faithful, who equally contributed to the construction of the first Muslim State. Such is the status of women that God’s beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in his last Hajj sermon: “Do treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.”
To illustrate, a woman in the subcontinent did not just bear children, she created history by rightly raising people like Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, who later emerged as the voices of Muslims in the subcontinent. Women in this regard were mothers, the first teachers of their children. Similarly, women like Fatima Jinnah, the ‘Mother of the Nation’, and Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan are known for their innumerable contributions to the struggle to get an independent country for the Muslims. Later, Benazir Bhutto became Pakistan’s pride as the first lady Prime Minister in the Muslim World. She fought for democracy throughout her living years and actively embraced death for its cause. Sheikh Hasina played the same role in her own country, Bangladesh.
Although, the aforementioned examples are quoted by many optimists who think that women are enjoying their prestige in today’s world, they forget to mention the names of many talented ladies who could have served the Muslims society as heads of state, doctors, engineers, scientists and lawyers, but were not given a chance to prove themselves. They were either killed before their birth or latent burnt by their husbands in the name of honour-killing.
It is high time; the male chauvinist ideas of keeping women away from quality education are not valid. Even the excuse that women have to fulfil their domestic responsibilities does not vindicate. It is feared that women might not be able to give adequate time to their households if they get involved in education. This claim can be easily proven wrong by the example of Iranian women, who have full freedom in their country to enjoy their professional lives and may utilise their education in improving the health conditions of their families. Moreover, considering that women represent more than half of the population in Pakistan, utilization of their skills is not only important for the economy, but also in the social context; doubtlessly, mothers must be educated in order to be able to lay the foundations of their children’s education.
In conclusion, a Muslim woman’s pivotal role starts as soon as she is born and does not come to a halt until her death. In her childhood and adolescence, she has to prove herself to be as vital for and contributing towards the household as a son has to; as a wife, she may help her spouse in breadwinning for the family; as a mother she teaches her child all the do’s and don’ts of life. Professional and moral excellence of women not only contributes to their personal well-being but also to the progress of the Muslim World.
